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EVIL Vladimir Putin is “treating his citizens like bits of meat to fling into the grinder”, Sir Keir Starmer has warned.
The PM mounted his strongest criticism yet of the Kremlin tyrant in remarks at the UN Security Council – blasting: “I wonder how Russia can show its face in this building.”
PA
GettySpeaking at the New York summit he presented a brutal charge sheet against Moscow that included the kidnapping of 20,000 Ukrainian kids.
Sir Keir said: “Six hundred thousand Russian soldiers have also been killed or wounded in this war. And for what?
“The UN Charter – which they sit here to uphold speaks of human dignity. Not treating your own citizens as bits of meat to fling into the grinder.”
He branded the invasion of Ukraine the “greatest violation of the UN Charter” since its creation and was even worse given Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council.
Facing down Moscow’s representative in the flesh, he added: “I think of Yaroslav Bazylevych, whose wife and three daughters were killed earlier this month by a Russian strike on civilians in Lviv. And I wonder how Russia can show its face in this building.”
President Zelensky is also in New York to rally fresh support for Ukraine as the conflict reaches a critical juncture.
His central demand is for Western leaders to give the green light for his troops to fire long-range missiles at targets inside Russia.
It is understood that Sir Keir is willing to grant the request, but that US President Joe Biden is reluctant.
Asked today whether the White House is the hold up, the PM said: “Well, I’m not going to get into the individual capabilities. I listen very hard to President Zelensky in relation to his approach, the support that he wants.
“Of course, we do. We’ve been steadfast in our support for Ukraine. We work with our allies.
“Some of this is work that has to be taken together, but it is important that we provide capability training and support for Ukraine as we have done, as the last government did, and that we listen hard to what is being said to us now by President Zelensky.”
PM faces questions over Sue Gray during UN trip
From JACK ELSOM in New York
TETCHY Sir Keir Starmer has said people should not criticise his divisive chief of staff Sue Gray.
In a fresh grilling, the PM said the top aide should not be “the subject of public debate” and he was “not going to play any part in it”.
But he risked a hypocrisy row after his old remarks attacking former Tory adviser Dominic Cummings resurfaced.
Downing Street has been rocked by a series of hostile briefings against Ms Gray, including a leak revealing she was paid more than the PM.
The most senior No10 adviser skipped the party conference but has joined Sir Keir in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
Asked about Ms Gray’s position, Sir Keir told the BBC: “I’m not going to discuss individual members of staff, whoever they are, any name of the staff you could have put to me in this interview, and I’d have the same answer to you.
“I don’t believe that my staff should be the subject of public debate like this, and I’m not going to play any part in it.”
While junior No10 staff are often kept out of the media, senior aides have long been the subject of public interest.
As leader of the opposition Sir Keir criticised Boris Johnson’s chief aide Mr Cummings for pocketing a £40,000 pay rise.
In the interview with the BBC’s Chris Mason, the PM accepted the saga surrounding Ms Gray were unhelpful.
He said: “Well, I acknowledge that briefings to you are not helpful to the government. My focus is on what we need to do as a government to change the country for the better.”
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